Chapter 7 – Hold me. Wrap me up. Unfold me.
AN: This was hard to write. Emotionally drained. Sia 'Breathe Me' was used when writing this. Oh and again I own nothing. Thanks for reading.
Zero's lips were on hers soft and gentle. His violet eyes were dusky with want.
"Rei."
His lips moved but it wasn't his voice it was Kaname's. Rei frowned as the dream dissolved and she blinked into consciousness. Kaname's deep brown eyes hovered over her. She sat bolt upright clutching her head. It was throbbing and pulsing and everything seemed to be in soft focus. Her throat was dry and raspy. She was so thirsty.
"Where's Zero?" Asked Rei glancing around frantically.
Kaname shook his head rolling his eyes.
"You made a mistake getting so close to him…you knew what was happening to him."
Rei scrunched her fingers into fists in the bed sheet. She wasn't going to talk about Zero with Kaname it only angered them both.
"What happened?"
Kaname turned from her.
"You've been out for 2 days. It was a pretty deep head wound."
"What happened to Shizuka? Is Yuki ok?" She asked concernedly.
It was her fault Yuki got into this mess and she hoped she was ok. Kaname tensed and glared at her.
"You no longer need to worry about her. Yuki is fine. No thanks to you. You acted recklessly and irresponsibly. All to save someone who cannot be saved."
Rei blushed and ground her teeth together.
"I know that but I couldn't stand back and do nothing either."
"It would've been better if you had. "He said gruffly.
"Where is he?"
Kaname sighed.
"Somewhere I can keep an eye on him. It's too late. He has fallen Rei. Your blood won't help him now." He said his voice surprisingly soft.
Rei felt a lump form in her throat as tears stung her eyes. No don't cry then he'll know. He already does idiot. It's too late.
"I want to see him."
Kaname shook his head vehemently.
"No. He is too dangerous."
Rei stood up quickly clutching her head and feeling angry that Kaname's hands were on her shoulders to steady her. She stepped back from him.
"I'm fine. If you won't take me I'll find some other way. I need to see him."
Kaname sighed.
"I was afraid you'd say that. Come with me quickly. Before I change my mind."
Rei grinned and impulsively wrapped her hands around his middle. Kaname patted her back awkwardly.
"Don't thank me if he tears your throat out. I'm doing this so you see what he is and realise he is lost." He said.
Rei nodded pulling away from him her heart aching at his words.
Kaname led her through all the secret twists and turns in darkened corridors. Her heart raced as they wound up and up to the tallest tower. She heard rattling chains and animalistic growls echoing down towards them. She shuddered. He'd chained him up like an animal. He was an animal now. Zero was gone. She blinked away the tears. No stay strong. Kaname twisted the knob and Rei's heart leapt into her mouth. The room was dank and dark with barely any natural light. What light there was coming through the barred window was silvery. Moonlight. It was past dark. It physically hurt to watch Zero like this. He was in pain writhing against his constraints. She could see now what others saw them as. Beasts in human form. He was barely human. His eyes were blood red his lips were pulled back in a vicious snarl. The tattoo on his neck glowed hot and fiery. He was still in his filthy now ragged school uniform the blood on his shirt faded to rusty red.
"He truly is a despicable creature." Said Kaname wrinkling his nose in disgust as he watched him writhe.
"He didn't ask for this. A pureblood like you did this to him. Who's the despicable one really?" She said her voice raw with emotion.
She cast her eyes downward to hide her tears she couldn't watch him anymore it hurt too much. Her eyes widened as she noticed Bloody Rose on the floor just out of reach of his long pale fingers. He was reaching for it. She raised her shocked eyes to Kaname. She ran forwards and kicked the gun away. It skittered into the wall and he raised his face to her. His face was a writhing mask of pain. He wanted to kill himself. That's how much he was hurting. The tears fell onto her cheeks slowly as she looked at him refusing to look away. Come back Zero, please.
"Did you leave that gun there so you could torture him?" She said her voice clipped and sharp with rage.
Kaname shook his head as he approached her.
"Yagari did. He knows he's living in hell right now. To kill him would be a kindness."
Rei froze and raised her tearstained face to his. She didn't care any more.
"Then what are you waiting for?" She asked crouching down to pick up Bloody Rose and placing it in Kaname's hands with shaking fingers.
That isn't Zero. She kept saying over in her mind as she watched him claw at his own flesh in pain. Kaname's eyes widened but he nodded.
"Can we…have a moment alone?"
Kaname sighed.
"He doesn't recognise you. He isn't Zero any more."
"He's still in there Kaname, I know it. If…if there is part of Zero left then what?"
Kaname sighed.
"I'm sorry but there isn't why can't you see that?" He asked tersely.
"Because I won't! He was so strong…I refuse to believe all traces of him are gone. I made him a promise. I promised I wouldn't see him starve. I promised I wouldn't let him fall. One way or another I'm keeping that promise. If-if he really is gone then I- I'll do it myself."
She said taking the Bloody Rose in her shaking hands. Kaname watched her evenly. She was a dignified crier. She wasn't sobbing she was strong.
"Rei…"
"Please, leave us." She said her voice wavering.
Kaname wanted to say more but one look from her silenced him. He nodded and left them but she knew he hadn't gone far. He was waiting just beyond the door if she failed to do her duty.
"I know I'm not who you want. I'm not Yuki. But I know you're in there Zero. Don't you want to see Yuki again? She loves you." She said her voice breaking as she gazed into his crimson eyes.
It hurt to say that but she'd say or do anything to bring him back. He lunged at her and the tears began to flow faster.
"Stop it Zero! Fight Come on!" She screamed shaking his shoulders violently.
He stopped snarling and she buried her face in his neck even though he desperately tried to push her off. He was struggling in her grasp desperate to be free of her clutches. She felt his fangs at her neck and she pushed him off violently.
"If all you want is blood then kill me Zero. Come on!" She said thrusting the gun into his hand.
He hesitated and for a moment she thought she saw lavender flicker beneath the crimson. She clutched his shoulders even though he tried to shrug her off and bare his fangs. She held him tight. She felt the cold steel at her temple and she closed her eyes.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Screamed Kaname as he burst through the door.
Rei placed her cool palm over Zero's burning neck caressing the tattoo tenderly.
"Look at me Zero. Everything is going to be ok. I promise."
Zero froze and Rei let her eyes flicker closed. This was the end.
"Rei?"
Rei's eyes flew open at the sound of his voice. His voice was so weak. Was she dead already? His face appeared before her. His eyes were restored to beautiful lavender and he was watching her closely. He looked so afraid.
"Zero." She said as she desperately cupped his face in her hands. The violet pools she loved glistened with unshed tears. She felt the gun clatter at her feet. His lips began to tremble and she felt her own tears spill onto her cheeks but this time with joy. She smiled.
"I knew you were in there. Don't scare me like that again. You're…you're an ass." She said her voice shaking with emotions.
Zero buried his head in her shoulder. She could feel his tears collecting in her collarbone. He was shaking she let them sink to the floor her hands gentle in his soft, silvery hair. He kept whispering two words over and over. 'I'm sorry'
She glanced across at Kaname who had a strange almost unreadable expression on his face.
"It's all right Zero. I won't leave you I promise." She whispered.
"Why? look at me I'm disgusting. Get away before-before it comes back." He whispered against her shoulder.
"Never forget who you are Zero."
She said as she pulled his face up level with hers. She took in the violet eyes glazed with tears, the porcelain skin, the pale soft lips. He was beautiful.
"Beautiful." She whispered in his ear his piercing brushing against her lip.
He embraced her fully then. So hard she felt like he might crush her ribcage but he still wasn't holding her tight enough. Rei's eyes widened in surprise as she returned the embrace. They wrapped their arms around each other and in that moment they were invincible and nothing could harm them. Kaname coughed and Rei was the first to break away unwillingly. Zero looked at Rei his fingers gentle on her cheek. She leant into his touch. His eyes shone with guilt. He was afraid to touch her for fear of hurting her. He'd almost killed her and she could see he would never allow himself to get close to her again. Would he ever embrace her or kiss her again?
Rei looked up at Kaname pleading with her eyes.
"Isn't there something we can do?" She asked softly.
Kaname sighed.
"Level E is inevitable but pureblood blood will stave off the urges for a while. It isn't a solution but it'll make you stronger. If you can come back from where you were a moment ago…there is still hope." Said Kaname staring at Zero as if he were vermin.
Zero froze.
"By pureblood you mean…you?"
He said his voice raw and weak.
Kaname nodded.
Rei gasped.
"You'd do…that?" Asked Rei her eyes wide.
Kaname nodded.
"Not for him but for Yuki, and for you. I see now that it is worse than I expected between you both."
Rei blushed overcome with gratitude.
Zero tensed.
"I won't drink from you."
Rei frowned at him shaking her head.
"Would you just stop being so stubborn for once and accept some help! Whether you like it or not I'm not leaving you. I made-we made a promise and I don't intend to break it. If you won't do it then do it for Yuki, do it for – me." She said squeezing him firmly by the shoulders and making him look at her.
His eyes widened. She wasn't leaving him even if he was weak and worthless she was still here. He owed her anything she requested of him. She was right however loath he was to admit that. He nodded and Rei gave him a surprised smile.
"Good."
She looked to Kaname and he nodded. She would give them privacy. She didn't need to make this moment any more embarrassing than it had to be.
"I'll be right outside that door and I'll be back. I promise." She said her fingers brushing through his hair lightly.
He nodded giving her a brief smile before she stepped outside giving him one last glance over her shoulder. She would be waiting and he would be waiting for her too.
"Remember who this blood was given for Zero." Said Kaname as he pulled Zero to his feet and pulled his head into his neck.
Zero froze he didn't want to owe anyone anything especially Kaname. But then the bloodlust took over. It didn't smell like her blood but it was blood and he was so thirsty. He desperately tried to resist but the desire for blood overpowered him and his fangs sank into his neck. The blood gushed into his mouth soothing his dry arid throat. It was rich but not as sweet or satisfying as Rei's. He tasted desire in Kaname's blood too but it was for Yuki. His emotions and thoughts became one endless never ending chaotic loop of fragmented images and threads.
It was strange as images of Yuki and Rei filled his mind he found his emotions swirled in his head. His feelings were changing and morphing and he wasn't sure what was happening. Yuki. He loved Yuki, he would always love Yuki but did he desire her? He desired Rei however wrong that was he did. He could taste her kiss burning onto his mouth and into his head. But did he love her? He wasn't sure of anything and the blood was clouding his mind. He had tied himself to Rei by drinking her blood he realised that now. He could feel a pull towards her deep within himself. It was like a cord was looped around them both it let them drift apart but eventually the cord would tighten and they would end up in each others arms again. He didn't know how to stop this feeling and he wasn't sure if he wanted to. He'd never allowed himself to get close to anyone he was afraid of losing everything and himself. He didn't know who he was anymore. 'Never forget who you are…beautiful.' Her voice rang in his head as he broke apart from Kaname. He felt strong and weak and filthy and clean all at once. It was too much it was overloading his mind and body as this new strength coursed through his body. His vision was becoming hazy. He was so tired. He felt her cool fingers on his neck as his eyelids fluttered closed.
"Sleep." She whispered.
He wanted to see her but his eyes were so heavy. He felt her brush her fingers over his sweaty brow. He felt himself being jostled around and then placed onto plump feather softness he had never known. It felt as if the mattress was swallowing him whole.
"I'll be here when you wake up." She said as she slipped her cool fingers in his hand.
Zero felt sleep take him and for the first time he could remember he didn't have nightmares. He dreamed of cool fingers and warm arms. He dreamt of her.
